VIDEO: Bikers bring Shaun Kelly home to Shantallow

Erin Hutcheon

There were emotional scenes in Shantallow tonight as bikers from across the North West brought the remains of their friend Shaun Kelly back to his home.

People lined the streets and clapped as line upon line of bikers pulled up at Ardnamoyle Park to pay their respects to a man who was known as one of life’s true gentlemen. The bikers had escorted their friend’s remains all the way from Eglinton.

Shaun on his motorbike.

Shaun Kelly passed away suddenly on Monday after falling ill at the weekend. The father of three was just 45 years-old.

Today his heartbroken family revealed his organs have been donated saving the lives of three other people.

His wife Sharon described her husband, and father of her three children, as a man with a “heart of gold.”

The couple who have been together for over 20 years renewed their wedding vows at Shaun’s beside in Altnagelvin Hospital on Saturday.

The late Shaun Kelly.

Shaun (45), a well known biker and charity fundraiser took ill suddenly at the weekend. The family have been told that his death was caused by a heart attack.

His family made the decision to donate his organs saying it is what Shaun would have wanted.

“Shaun was always giving to others,” said Sharon. “We decided to donate his organs, but not his eyes. Shaun had the most piercing blue eyes you ever saw. I always told him he had the sexiest eyes.”

The couple were to renew their wedding vows in August however when Shaun’s health deteriorated, they renewed their vows in the hospital on Saturday. Sharon was given a special ring that Shaun had designed specially for her, but was keeping a secret.

The remains of Shaun Kelly are brought home over the Foyle Bridge escorted by his biking friends. (pic Charlie McMenamin)

“He had a heart of gold,” she said. “Shaun lived for me and the wains, and his biking clubs Bikers for Charity and Exiles.

“He would have given you the shirt off his back.

“Shaun had only started exercising because they old him he was borderline diabetic. He went to the gym and lost three and a half stone.”See full story and tributes in this week’s Friday Journal.